Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

[SYD]

Yeah I was on the $50 plan, originally discounted to $40 for 2 years (from May 2019 signup) and then has been $50 pm since then. They’re moving me to the $49 Choice plan. No more included roaming:

View attachment 334291

It was mentioned up thread about getting free OS calls/txt thrown in as compensation. I’d be trying that on before porting.

I need to read up on the details, I'm very concerned as the changes take effect whilst I'm overseas and I like my current roaming, where it costs me nothing to receive SMS whilst overseas and only 20c to send a sms if needed in an emergency.

I use UK sim for data in my tablet whilst away that works in 70+ countries, but rely on free roaming on my Aussie mobile for 2FA.

I’d be surprised if they remove that ability to receive free SMS OS but do report back!

 

[Human]

The "Critical Information Summary" for the new plan they're putting me on has a "Customer complaints" number the end: 133 937. I'll be calling it tomorrow. The 4GB/month global roaming on the plan they're taking me off has saved me hundreds of dollars. Not at all impressed.

If they remove global roaming I'll be exploring my options about a complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

 

[AIRwin]

If I receive that notice, I'm moving to Amaysim. Their plans are quite reasonable.
They've recently introduced the roaming packs and it looks quite good!

International Roaming

Ditch daily roaming charges. Add roaming in 90+ selected destinations to your plan from just $20, with 365 days to use.

www.amaysim.com.au

The link seems to be broken?

 

[SYD]

The link seems to be broken?

If you’re OS, try a VPN. I had trouble opening the website from the US a few months ago when a link was posted.

 

[LondonAussie]

I just got this email too, the only thing I really care about is losing the included roaming - having roaming calls/SMS on my Australian number whilst living overseas is more important than the data (I have a UK phone with unlimited data).

If anyone is successful in keeping the included roaming via complaints or TIO, please post. I tried the in-app chat and got absolutely nowhere.

As I'm currently overseas, I'm thinking the best option is asking Optus to change my number over to pre-paid, and then I'll port it to Amaysim next time I'm back in Australia?

 

[johnny_yh2000]

The "Critical Information Summary" for the new plan they're putting me on has a "Customer complaints" number the end: 133 937. I'll be calling it tomorrow. The 4GB/month global roaming on the plan they're taking me off has saved me hundreds of dollars. Not at all impressed.

If they remove global roaming I'll be exploring my options about a complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Please let us know how that go. I’m thinking about doing the same. This certainly doesn’t offer extra value to me. I thought unless we agreed to change to the new plan, otherwise telco company can’t just change us to a new plan…

 

[Human]

Please let us know how that go. I’m thinking about doing the same. This certainly doesn’t offer extra value to me. I thought unless we agreed to change to the new plan, otherwise telco company can’t just change us to a new plan…

Well, I called Optus' complaint line (133 937) and I must say the call went better than expected. Almost too good to be true, in fact.

The agent I spoke to assured me that the email that was sent out was a "generic" email and that "the system will check all your inclusions and apply those inclusions to your new plan" (his exact words).

I (twice) then asked him to clarify: so Global Roaming will be included on my new plan? "That's correct".

So I should ignore what the email says about how "international roaming will no longer be included on your plan"? "Yes, you should ignore what the email says as it was sent out to all affected customers and doesn't affect your plan".

Still somewhat incredulous, I asked whether he would be able to put what he'd told me in writing. "I will add a note of this conversation to your account".

I asked: and that note will specifically include that Global Roaming will be included on my new plan after August 3? "Yes, it will".

I'm still a little sceptical and would like to know how other people go. And of course I'll still be double-checking and triple-checking that international roaming will be included on my new plan, and obviously taking it further if it isn't. But so far so good...

 

[exceladdict]

Well, I called Optus' complaint line (133 937) and I must say the call went better than expected. Almost too good to be true, in fact.

The agent I spoke to assured me that the email that was sent out was a "generic" email and that "the system will check all your inclusions and apply those inclusions to your new plan" (his exact words).

I (twice) then asked him to clarify: so Global Roaming will be included on my new plan? "That's correct".

So I should ignore what the email says about how "international roaming will no longer be included on your plan"? "Yes, you should ignore what the email says as it was sent out to all affected customers and doesn't affect your plan".

Still somewhat incredulous, I asked whether he would be able to put what he'd told me in writing. "I will add a note of this conversation to your account".

I asked: and that note will specifically include that Global Roaming will be included on my new plan after August 3? "Yes, it will".

I'm still a little sceptical and would like to know how other people go. And of course I'll still be double-checking and triple-checking that international roaming will be included on my new plan, and obviously taking it further if it isn't. But so far so good...

The 4GB roaming allowance appearing on your app will be a good guide.

Post automatically merged: Jun 21, 2023

Gah, just got the dreaded email. Let's see how the support conversation goes...

 

[Lynda2475]

FYI Amaysim is owned by Optus

International Roaming | Add roaming in 90+ Selected Destinations

Ditch daily roaming charges. Add roaming in 90+ selected destinations to your plan from just $20, with 365 days to use.

www.amaysim.com.au

The $20 roaming is voice and text only. Or +$50 for 5GB data.

Cheaper to get a UK SIM which works world wide and gives more than double that amount of data.

 

[Human]

The 4GB roaming allowance appearing on your app will be a good guide.

Thanks for the tip -- I've taken a screenshot in case of a future dispute!

 

[SYD]

Well, I called Optus' complaint line (133 937) and I must say the call went better than expected. Almost too good to be true, in fact.

The agent I spoke to assured me that the email that was sent out was a "generic" email and that "the system will check all your inclusions and apply those inclusions to your new plan" (his exact words).

I (twice) then asked him to clarify: so Global Roaming will be included on my new plan? "That's correct".

So I should ignore what the email says about how "international roaming will no longer be included on your plan"? "Yes, you should ignore what the email says as it was sent out to all affected customers and doesn't affect your plan".

Still somewhat incredulous, I asked whether he would be able to put what he'd told me in writing. "I will add a note of this conversation to your account".

I asked: and that note will specifically include that Global Roaming will be included on my new plan after August 3? "Yes, it will".

I'm still a little sceptical and would like to know how other people go. And of course I'll still be double-checking and triple-checking that international roaming will be included on my new plan, and obviously taking it further if it isn't. But so far so good...

We both received the email. Let’s hope this advice is correct (I intend to follow up also) but as it stands the info provided is very confusing when you click through some of the links provided….

 

[Lynda2475]

I’d be surprised if they remove that ability to receive free SMS OS but do report back!

It looks like you can receive SMS but if you send one instead of being charged $0.20 like now, it will automatically start a $5/day roaming pack.

I need to work out how to disable so that $5/day pack cant auto-activate. I prefer old school roaming pay only for what I use, which on a typically overseas trip is to receive 2FA SMS and maybe send between 1-5 SMS so usually no more than $1 extra on my bill.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

I too got the dreaded email this arvo, sadly the global roaming will disappear from my plan.
At least I got to use it a few times this year in Japan, Malaysia and Singapore

 

[SYD]

It looks like you can receive SMS but if you send one instead of being charged $0.20 like now, it will automatically start a $5/day roaming pack.

I need to work out how to disable so that $5/day pack cant auto-activate. I prefer old school roaming pay only for what I use, which on a typically overseas trip is to receive 2FA SMS and maybe send between 1-5 SMS so usually no more than $1 extra on my bill.

In the Optus app, you should have 3 roaming options. “Off”, PAYG or Roaming Plan. The PAYG should let you send SMS and make calls at the current Optus rate. The risk is inadvertently turning on roaming data and the PAYG rates aren’t pretty (ie Bill Shock stuff).

 

[Lynda2475]

There is no risk of turning on roaming data, its disabled on a handset level (super easy on android), I have over 20 years of roaming and its never happened - by doing it at device level, doesn't matter what is on one's account.

I think you will find once on a Choice plan you don't have the option of PAYG anymore, just $5/day or nothing which is absolute cough. I couldnt get anything sensible out of customer care so am trying back door by people I know who work there.

If I cant get a guarantee that i can receive SMS for free whilst roaming and PAYG send SMS if needed in an emergency i will have to churn to another provider who still allows free SMS receipt. It is essential for 2FA (and much cheaper than 2FA which needs data). One can get a UK sim for super cheap data whilst travelling, its the need for my own number to receive 2FA and airline SMS which is the deal breaker.

 

[aerotravel]

I received that email about Optus switching my plan today. Not happy!
I’ll look to switch to Amaysim before end of the month. I’ll add the roaming packs if I need to when I travel overseas. Generally I don’t call or text while overseas as much. Just mainly some data to check google maps or respond to messages.

There aren’t any credible roaming plans that include international data that’s not daily charge or pay as you go.

 

[SYD]

I think you will find once on a Choice plan you don't have the option of PAYG anymore, just $5/day or nothing which is absolute cough. I couldnt get anything sensible out of customer care so am trying back door by people I know who work there.

No, you should have the option. Here’s what I see on the current $50 plan. I have the $10 option off (which would only trigger currently if I went over the 4GB monthly limit).

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes i have those options now on my current $30 My Plan Plus and also on my $25 My Promo Plus plan (which has a $20 discount) so I only pay $35/month right now for 3 sims across 2 plans.

But the new Choice Plans they are forcing us onto are different - they will only have the $5 day pass option from what I can see. Choice Plans come in $49, $59, $69, $79 and $89 and are subscription plans.

Your $50 plan is not one of the new Choice Pland it is one of the better older style traditional post paid plans and its days are numbered.

Optus look to be moving to Pre-Paid or Subscription model only, no more genuine postpaid plans for consumers.

 

[transpactraveller]

The new "Choice" plans don't provide you with that choice. It's $5/day or no roaming. The app says to turn off roaming you'll need to turn on Airplane Mode before you leave Australia and keep it that way until you return.

It is also a direct debit, they take the $5 straight out of your bank each day.

 

[Lynda2475]

The new "Choice" plans don't provide you with that choice. It's $5/day or no roaming. The app says to turn off roaming you'll need to turn on Airplane Mode before you leave Australia and keep it that way until you return.

And that is the problem, there should be a middle ground like there is now, where you disable data so you can receive SMS for free; but not incur any charges unless you turn data on, make a call or send an sms.

Its a nonsensical decision, it is just pretty much guaranteeing people who travel, churn to a provider who allows free sms receipt or keep their phone tuned off except in an absolute emmergency.

For my next trip I will be out of the country for 35 days this nonsense would charge me $175 extra just to receive SMS which is a joke, since I have no need to make any calls or use any data.

A UK Sim that is valid for 365 days gives me 15GB data useable in 71 countries at a cost of only $50 pop it in my tablet and never worry about crazy costs - because i only use maps or do the odd google search to but a ticket etc when out and about that one SIM lasts me 12 months.